Notice-indicator and message-receiver



. M. W. OTTO.

NOTICE INDICATOR AND MESSAGE RECEIVER.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.21. 191s.

Patented May MI, 19211.

gnue'nfoz UNH'TET) STATES FATENT @FFHQE.

NOTICE-INDICATOR AND MESSAGE-RECEIVER.

Application filed August 21, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL W. OTTO, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Supply, in the county of Woodward and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Notice- Tndicators and ltfessage-Receivers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to indicators, and more particularly to a device to indicate the time of return when a person has left his office or place of business, and also to announce cause of absence, or where to be found, or any other suitable data, as well as providing a receptacle having a dial indicating the time and provided with a slot adapted for receiving messages and to retain the same safely until the return of said person to his place of business or his office.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple device of the above character, including a cabinet with a novel arrangement of parts therein for accomplishing the functions stated.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fullydescribed herein and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis application, in which like reference characters indicate the corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my 1mproved indicator,

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved universal notice indicator and message receiver is shown as comprislng a casing 10 preferably of substantially rectangular form in outline, having a bottom wall 11, a rear wall 12, side walls 13, and a hinged door frame 14 at the front thereof, provided with a transparent or glass panel 15. The door is hinged as at 16 and is provided with a groove 17 adapted to recelve the panel 15 from the top of the door frame, whereby to permit renewal of the same with convenience.

Arranged in the casing or safe is a dial plate 18, corresponding to a clock dial and supported upon horizontal posts 19, con

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16), 1921.

Serial No. 250,898.

nected to the back wall 12 and extending in proximity to the front of the casing adjacent to the door panel. A minute hand 20 and an hour hand 21, are supported upon independent posts 22 and 23 projecting rearwardly of the dial and headed as shown at 24, there being an interposed expansible coil spring 25 designed to hold the hands under tension, whereby they will be held in adjusted positions to indicate the time of departure or return, or other data desired to be displayed. An apertured lug or hasp 26 is carried by one of the side walls 13 to project through a slot in the frame 14, whereby the door may be secured in closed position by a padlock 27, whereby to facilitate secure closing of the casing against meddlers and others desiring to open the same without'privilege. A slot- 28 is also arranged at one side to receive messages, a suitable cover 29 being arranged over the same to prevent the entrance of rain water.

The back of the casing is provided with an apertured lug 3O projecting above the same for suspension purposes, and said back portion may be provided with suitableapertures 31 for suspending the device from a wall, if this is desired. The casing may be provided with a gable roof or top portion 32 projecting over the front and sides so as to prevent the entrance of rain water into the casing. This construction is shown in Fig. 1, while in Fig. 2 the top is shown sloping forwardly as indicated at 33, for similar purposes, inasmuch as said top overhangs, as shown at 34.

Arranged in the bottom of the casing is a stacked card compartment provided with a stack of cards indicated at 35, having written or printed thereon the desired data to be used to indicate the return of the person or otherwise, it being understood that these cards can be written or printed on both sides It will be understood that the device may be used in offices, railroad stations, church vestibules, kitchens, etc., wherever it is desired to indicate the data in question, and it' may be made of any material, either metal or wood, to suit the fittings or taste of the user. It is also to be understood that the hands may be set by turning the same, through. the medium of the pivots thereof, or by actuating the hands directly, and the spring 25 will hold the hands in. adjusted position, even though the device may be vibrated. When it is desired to exhibit the required card, the same is taken from the pile o1 stack 35 and placed in the spring clamp, in front of the same when it will. be visible through thetransparent'panel in connection with the dial, the dial bearing printed matter if desired. It willbe understood that messages may be deposited within the casing and retained safely for the owner until his return, thus combining in a single device, convenience for giving and receiving messages where the same will always be acceptable.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings', it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention may be had,-and while I have shownand described the device as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, andv desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A device of the class described comprising a. housing, a closure therefor having a transparent panel therein, a stacked card compartment in said housing opposite said closure, upright card supports in the housing adjacent said closure andv between it and said stacked card compartment, said supports being positioned to perform the double function of a card support to hold the card for reading through said panel and to retain the stacked cards against displacement.

In testimony whereof, I attach my signature hereto.

MICHAEL W. OTTO. 

